Footstool adapted for use with sanitary closets



y 1941- R. G. FINLAY 2,250,060

FOOTSTOOL ADAPTED FOR USE WITH SANITARY CLOSETS Filed March 7, 1939 Igg 6,

Reemm GEDYE HHLAY WWW fifim? ATTORNBS Patented July 22, 1941 FOOTSTOOL ADAPTED FOR USE WITH SANITARY CLOSETS Reginald Gedye Finlay, Bolney Trevor, Shiplake, England Application March '7, 1939, Serial No. 260,283 In Great Britain November 1, 1938 3 Claims.

The subject of this invention is a footstool or platform adapted for use with a sanitary closet, for the purpose of obtaining with a closet of the ordinary height the physiological advantages of the squatting position which are sought to be obtained by the low type of closet known as the low down or Hygienic closet. The low type of closet, however, is necessarily still too high, and even so cannot be substituted for the type in general use without considerable expense; and moreover it offers difliculty in rising from the low squatting position to the standing position.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide a simple device of the aforesaid character which if desired can be left permanently in a position adjacent the closet without interfering with the use of the closet as a urinal, and can be readily brought from the said position into a position for use without necessarily involving the use of any extraneous mechanism or any constructional alterations in or attachments to the closet itself.

According to the invention a platform or a pair of platforms suitably supported, and so shaped as to provide two footrests, preferably connected together by a bridge piece, or are so arranged that the footrests can slide-one on each side of a closet, so that they can be pulled forward for use and pushed back out of the way when not required.

The device may be of plain or ornamental appearance, and may be made of solid or framed wood or metal, or glazed fireclay or other suitable material, or in tubular form or the like. The platforms or footrests may be fiat boards or metal sheets or the like, and may be covered with carpet, cork, rubber, metal or other suitable material. The supports or side pillars or panels may be joined by one or more straight, arched, or curved front or bridge pieces, which may be adjustable in length and may be hinged, but is or are preferably rigid, so that the device can be moved as a unit. The device may be mounted to run on rails or guides on the floor or on the closet itself, or by other suitable means kept in alignment with the closet for tidiness.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing, illustrating several exemplifications of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a footstool in accordance with the present invention, show ing the movable part thereof drawn forward for use, and

Figure 2 is a similar perspective view showing the movable part pushed back to its position of non-use.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, a footstool is shown having two foot rests or platforms, C, C raised above and parallel to the floor or other supporting surface. These foot rests or platforms are both at the same level and are separated laterally from each other a distance sufficient to enable them to be situated at the opposite sides of and close to a sanitary closet (not shown). Support for the platforms is obtained by front and rear legs. For platform C, the front and rear legs are designated by characters A, A respectively and for platform C by A and A respectively. The legs are preferably of tubular metal, and the lower ends of the frontlegs are rounded so as to run freely on the floor. As shown, the front legs are vertical whereas the rear legs tilt somewhat, sloping rearwardly downward in the specific illustration of the drawings.

The rear legs preferably are fast with respect to a bridge member B, here shown as a horizontally disposed tubular U-member parallel to the platforms, beneath the same, and substantially resting on the floor. The tube ends of said tubular U-member are directed rearwardly whereas the curved or looping part of the member is forwardly thereby enabling it to pass around the sides and front of the base-portion of the sanitary closet with which it is used.

Since the U-member is hollow and the ends project rearwardly, the same conveniently telescope with respect to stationary, parallel and horizontally disposed extensions or guides P, P the rear ends of which are adapted to be secured to the floor or other supporting surface. These guides both direct the forward and rearward movement of the footstool and keep the platforms from tilting or being undesirably displaced.

The user sits on the closet seat in the usual way, and then raises his feet until they rest on the two foot rests of the stool, which, being situated on either side of the closetpan, enable him to assume the true squatting position recommended by the medical profession. This is not the same as the crouching position necessitated by the use of an ordinary footstool or other device in which the two feet are in front. Before rising, the feet can again be placed on the floor, so that the user is not obliged to rise from a low sitting position. The device may be automatically drawn back into the rearward position, by

. to be anchored to the floor, said extension serving to guide and restrict the movements of the unit relatively to the closet pan.

2. A footstool unit adapted for use with a sanitary closet, comprising in combination two footrests spread laterally from each. other and in a horizontal plane, a U-shaped member havingits end portions in a plane parallel to the plane. of the footrests and below the same and having the curved portion atthe forward part of the said footstool, and legs extending upwardly from a rear part of said end portions of the U-shaped member and supporting the said platforms in an elevated position with respect to the U-shaped member.

3. A footstool unit adapted for use with a sanitary closet, comprising in combination two footrests spread laterally from each other and in a horizontal plane, a U-shaped member having its end portions in a plane parallel to the plane of the footrests and below the same and having the curved portion at the forward part of the said footstool, legs extending upwardly from a rear part of said end portions of the U-shaped member and supporting the said platforms in an elevated position with respect to the U-shaped member, said end portions of the U-shaped member being hollow, and horizontally disposed exten- :sions telescoping with respect to said U-shaped member.ends,isaid extensions being adapted to be secured to the floor and guide and restrict movement of the U-shaped member.

QREGINALD GEDYE FINLAY. 

